This blog highlights verses in the Bible that are rarely included in sermons and Sunday school lessons. It also examines contradictions and other problem verses.
Presuppositions
1) Explanations should deal with as much of the evidence as possible
2) Explanations should avoid contradictions, both internal and with the evidence from the physical world
3) Explanations should be logical
4) Explanations should make predictions that can be tested
5) Explanations should have some utility in addressing new evidence
Biblical Interpretation Statement
I recognize that there are multiple methods of interpreting the Bible. This blog is written from the point of view in which I grew up, which is that the Bible is the inerrant and literal word of a perfect God.
Some people claim certain sections of the Bible are metaphor. For example, some Christians do not believe in a literal Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Other Christians do believe in this literally. I can not discuss every possible way of interpreting every possible story. The Bible does not say “this passage is literal, and that passage is metaphor.” Therefore, I will examine the Bible as if it were all literal. I will recognize that stories such as the parables told by Jesus are not necessarily based on factual events.
Comments
I reserve the right to edit comments that
- Contain phone numbers or other person information
- Are nothing more than long sermons
- Do not address the verses of the blog entry
Arguments that do not address the verses include:
- Evolution is false, therefore the entire Bible is true
- The universe was created, therefore there is a creator, therefore the entire Bible is true
- Objective morals can only exist with God; objective morals exist; therefore God exists and the entire Bible is true
YOU ARE SO AWESOME THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!!! Ps reading your responses to people’s comments makes my day
By: leni on November 1, 2010
at 9:47 am
First of all I’d like to say that yes it is too bad that these verses aren’t read more in church. However, while you have some very valid points, I think you misunderstood. You see, Nebuchadnezzar’s attack on Tyre was more of a warning of what was to come. Ezekiel’s prophecy was suppose to be a wake-up call for Lebanon. God sent an attack on Tyre to prove to Lebanon that it could be done and they really could be destroyed. However, God showed mercy on them and gave them a lot of time to repent. The complete destruction of Tyre has yet to come and will only come as we draw closer and closer to the end. It is easier to recognize that this destruction wasn’t going to happen immediately when you look at chapter 28 of Ezekiel. In those verses it talks about Tyre’s ruler claiming to be a god, however in also says in part of verse 2 “but you are only a man and not a god though you boast that you are a God.” Ok, so even for people who aren’t Christians, what do you think of when you hear people talking about someone convincing everyone they’re God? In terms of Christianity, you should think of the Antichrist, who is of course satan. Still talking about the prince of Tyre, in verse 13 it says ” you were in Eden, the garden of God.” and in verse 14 it says that ” I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian.” Therefore I think its important to realize that Tyre wasn’t ruled by who is descibed in those verses at the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. Thefore this leads me to believe that Tyre is where the Antichrist could possibly rule when the end times come. And another important reason why I believe that is because seems like based on chapter 31 of Ezekiel that Lebanon was where Eden was located. Chapter 31 talks about Assyria was once like a cedar of Lebanon and that no tree in the garden of God came close to it in beauty. Also a good part of all these things about Tyre and even Eygpt is discussed in the riddle and explanation in chapter 17. I can see why you think that this prophecy was false-because you didn’t read everything or understand. Tyre will be destroyed, but I think it might be after the seven years that the antichrist has control of the earth. It only makes sense to me that where God’s and Satan’s war over humanity began (Eden) is where it will end and Tyre will be destroyed. I appreciate the opportunity I have to adress this and hope you can take something away from it. I can’t guaretee that I am correct, but only that I have done my best to uderstand and explain Ezekiel’s prophecy….Thanks!
By: Dorrie Beachy on December 19, 2011
at 5:56 pm
I appreciate you sharing these verses and exposing them to the light of reason. I was raised the same as you, to believe the bible was the absolute word of a perfect god. You provide a great service by exploring & debating these texts. Thank you!
By: Julia on April 21, 2011
at 9:33 pm
Hello Ed, I came across your blog and found it thought provoking, and I was wondering what are your views on the Bible and what do you believe, if at all. I think any time you can get people to really think about their interpretation or what someone has told them over the years about the Bible, they will began to open their eyes and see clearly. Religion is what I feel the majority have and the believe what is “told” to them. I would like to here from you and how yo came to writing this kind of blog. Very interesting work.
By: Mike Zurn on October 29, 2011
at 5:42 pm
I was raised a fundamentalis Christian (Southern Baptist) and became an agnostic after reading the bible from cover to cover, which I did twice. Most of the verses that alarmed me are here. I further investigated how the bible came into being, shockingly learning that the protestant bible was not completed until 1885; that there were hundreds of books accepted as Christian books no longer in either the protestant or catholic canon; that there were a variety of beliefs (Marcionites, Ebionites, Gnostics, etc) called Christian prior to 325 CE that would be called heretical today; that orthodox Christianity was forged through the years; much Christianity was adapted from other mythologies, etc. I will post a link to a power point presentation on meetup.com when I get home from work.
By: edhensley on October 31, 2011
at 2:55 pm
Hey Ed. I was looking for an email addy for you but could not find one. I guess I understand why you want to keep it private. But I was wondering in all your pew sitting hours have you ever heard of a preacher, priest, or reverend tell people they needed to sign up for an eBay account and sell all they own and then give the proceeds to the poor before they would be allowed to get into heaven? He actually mentions it twice but the most blatant is in the 18th chapt of Luke when someone asks him how to have eternal life. He explains that in verse 22 they need to sell everything they own and give that away (what most folks call socialism). I’ve asked Christians why they feel they are going to heaven and they all quote John 3:16. but fail to know the other rules Jesus set out. What are some of the examples you get as to why Jesus’ own words no longer matter (in their mind)? Maybe its worth a post on your site to see what answers you get.
By: Mike M on November 3, 2011
at 8:14 pm
That was the only thing that was holding him back from making a commitment. It was apparent that he placed what he desired most ahead of serving .
By: Bill.Will on February 22, 2012
at 3:56 am
Came upon your site after Googling “Midianites.” Wonderful! The Bible has always been a favorite reading place for me, but not for religious reasons. Nice to find a cozy corner where the Bible isn’t seen as just “the word of God.”
By: Ken Pierce on April 7, 2012
at 1:39 pm
Really enjoying your blog. I am a religious studies student but a dedicated atheist so I may be sourcing your blog for papers and debates. Really appreciate you taking the time to write this out, thank you.
By: Logan Thomas on May 8, 2012
at 5:55 pm
My church is spending a whole term looking at Judges. We’ve also read the whole of Jonah. Another nasty book. We don’t neglect any of it, especially the hard bits. That’s where we work the hardest.
The mistake I’ve watched people make with respect to the bible is to try and fit a huge, universe-sized history into a post-modern rationalist headspace. It simply doesn’t fit. God is bigger, the world is far more complex and super-imposing our “I know better” culture onto 3000 year old events just does not work. Nor does it help us understand what God was doing in Canaan, Ninevah, Egypt or any of the other places people try brand him as having been “Evil”. Big questions have big complex answers. Often the answers are as difficult as the question itself. Why does God call Ehud to kill Eglon? Could it be because Eglon had justice coming? Check out the words of Adoni-Bezek in Judges 1. Even he could see his time was up. Justice is important. God cannot love without being just. Additionally, mercy cannot be offered where offenders are not being brought to justice.
BTW Ed, I understand why you’ve struggled with the bible, but don’t think it’s only a few hundred years old. That’s spiced, lunch sausage. The NT is reliably aged back 2000 years. The dead sea scrolls help us to see a reliable OT a few thousand years before that.
By: Pete on May 21, 2012
at 1:34 am
The 27 books of the New Testament were not decided until 367 CE, over 330 years after the supposed life of Jesus.
The oldest New Testament codex that contains all 27 books of the current new testament also contains the Shepherd of Hermes and the Epistle of Barnabas.
The Dead Sea scrolls show that many verses were altered by the time the Septuagint and Masoretic texts were created. Deuteronomy 32:8 is “Sons of God” in Septuagint and Dead Sea Scrolls, but “Sons of Israel” in the Masorietic text and therefore in most modern bibles. Modern bible publishers choose “Sons of Israel” becuase the Dead Sea Scroll verse supports polytheism.
Only 40% of the Dead Sea scrolls contain books in the Old Testament (no NT books), and there is no distinction between the 40% biblical and 60% non-biblical books.
Finally, you omitted the Nag Hammadi scriptues, which are Gnostic Christian gospels, none of which are found in the New Testament. Prior to the establishment of Orthodox Christianity by the Roman Empire, Christians had a wide variety of belief in Christ. Some believed he was man only, some believe god only. Some followed the Old Testament, some did not follow the Old Testament. Some believed Jesus was god’s son (separate being from god).
I recommend you read The Evolution of God by Robert Wright and the Bart Ehrman books Jesus Interrupted, Lost Christianities, and Misquoting Jesus.
By: edhensley on May 21, 2012
at 4:03 pm